This past weekend has provided us with a few answers on the four races still going on in the Premier League, with only one thing for absolutely certain: Portsmouth, slayers of many in the F.A. Cup, will be a Championship side come next year, assuming they can hold it together long enough to still be in operation by that point. It’s a juxtaposition of sorts, considering that their last run to the F.A. Cup may have well started the downfall of the club. It would also be worthy of noting that the squad they beat for that title, Cardiff City, have a chance to possibly replace them in the top flight. An unsavory bit of irony for the south-coast outfit, but an unfortunate reality nonetheless.
Now, here’s a thought for the masses. If you are Manchester City and you decide to get rid of Roberto Mancini, why not take a stab at Avram Grant? All the man has done since taking over Chelsea is nearly win them the Champions League and salvage the pride and dignity of Portsmouth while leading them to the F.A. Cup final under the most trying of circumstances. The man is battle tested and ready to rock and roll anywhere he decides to go. In fact, if I’m a top flight team that needs a new head man, Mr. Grant could probably come in on the cheap compared to Jose Mourinho and give you everything you’d probably want.
Just a thought for thinking….
No race was really determined but the relegation scrap might have become the clearest of all after Burnley smacked around Hull City 1-4. Hull started off the contest looking like they would blow Burnley out of Molineux, but, much to the credit of the visitors, the contest would take a twist before halftime after Paterson finally exposed the lax defending of Hull to level the contest. Two penalties later, Burnley would have been mistaken for a midtable outfit, adding a fourth out of spite for the last sixteen road contests.
While the result is grand for Burnley, it doesn’t change the fact that a Wigan win between now and the end of the term will see them sent back down and may have in fact damned both the 18th and 19th placed sides to Championship competition next term. Hull still have an outside shot of getting out of harms way, but that will rely heavily on getting a double over Sunderland and Wigan, assuming Wigan do nothing between now and the end of the term. Seeing as Wigan have Pompey and a improved but still maligned West Ham squad still on the docket, that looks unlikely.
The title chase may have gotten away from Manchester United after being unable to break down a Blackburn side that really never threatened to do likewise. The loss leaves them in a position where they are four points behind Chelsea in the standings after their win over Bolton. They will needs significant help from the likes of Spurs and Liverpool (as much as United will grit their collective teeth in seething hatred in saying) to rattle the Blues and give them some hope of getting back into the title chase.
Arsenal, of course, could stand to capitalize on the lack of United push for the title and sneak into second if the returning Robin van Persie can shoulder some of the load. Back in time for today’s clash with Spurs, his effectiveness may not be felt today but in the later matches he might give the Gunners reassurance in not having to leave every match with the non-big clubs to the last five seconds. To stay relevant, though, they have to win today, which is something their opposite numbers are also trying to accomplish.
F.A. Cup – Semifinals
The Wembley Slip-N’-Slide Arena (an apt sponsor for the place at the moment) took the worst beating of the weekend, just marginally worse than the one that Chelsea inflicted upon Villa in the final half hour of the Saturday fling. Hopefully, James Collins will take the next set of John Terry quotes at face value, rather than prove the Chelsea skipper correct.
Of course, that was only marginally better than the Spurs extra-time collapse against Pompey. The pitch did its part to aid the south-coast cause, but, in all fairness, Spurs were already doing plenty to not win right well on their own. Suddenly, the Londoners are in danger of Villa-esque meltdown and, if they weren’t already eight points ahead of Everton, might be in the running to also bow-down to the Toffee charge. Credit has to be given to Pompey, though, as they actually remembered playing with one another enough to keep Spurs at bay before the inevitable pitch-slip happened at the most crucial of moments.
April 10th
The aforementioned Burnley beatdown of Hull City probably means that both sides are taking the plunge at the end of the term. Hull looked good early and right until the Jensen save of Altidore were massive favorites to win. Poor defending was soon exposed and two clear penalties completely destroyed what little psyche was left to the Tigers. This was compounded by West Ham’s monstrous 1-0 win over Sunderland, a victory that was not as clear cut as it seemed, with the Black Cats outplaying the Hammers in large swaths of the contest, only to be undone by a quick over-the-top free kick that Carlton Cole slid to Ilan. That win almost takes them out of the danger zone, considering the inept form of Hull and Burnley.
April 11th
Liverpool needed three points from Fulham. They had to do it without Fernando Torres. Subsequently, they failed to score without the Spaniard spearheading the attack, a trait that has effectively cost them the Champions League for next term. Fulham were not overly productive but the Reds cannot seem to figure out a way to get the critical points when they need them. They paid heavily when Birmingham City, they of tight team defense, were lambs to the City slaughter. A 5-1 mauling is a troubling sign for squads in the Premier League that perhaps City have begun to gel as a unit. Why Adam Johnson is not getting more P.R. for a seat on the England plane is beyond me; he’s probably the best flank player that England has at the moment, plus he’s a lefty with a decent right to boot. Taking him and Bobby Zamora instead of SWP, Lennon (crocked again), Walcott, Crouch, Bentley and Heskey would be a move that would pay dividends over the course of the month.
The Wolves/Stoke draw was pretty timid, but, at the same time, Wolves keep moving further away from the relegation zone. Wolves are now in a position where two wins will be required from either Burnley or Hull just to match them, while the goal differential is still significant. Three more points would probably see them at the safety line. The same cannot be said for United’s draw with Blackburn, one that leaves them in a nearly untenable spot in the drive for the title.
April 13th
Let it be said that Chelsea did in fact beat Bolton. Let it not be said that there was anything convincing about it. The Blues got away with two pretty distinct handballs in a match where they lacked the verve they had shown in assaulting Old Trafford only a week prior. While Bolton aren’t a side that is always easy to break down, are they more competitive than United are? I doubt that is the case; there are certainly enough nerves being shown to make a case that the title is not quite theirs yet.
The New Week
The Wednesday triple play are vital contests one and all. Whether or not Villa fade out of the European scene may be determined by their encounter with Everton today. Wigan must beat the no-name Pompey team that will be at the DW; failure to do so may do irreparable damage to the team psyche. And then, there is this little deal between Spurs and Arsenal. A loss for either side or a draw effectively ends the chase that both teams have. Spurs should also start looking for a doctor who can fix groins soon. Lennon and Woodgate probably both have the same groin problem and both are continually having relapses. Somebody needs to figure out what the hell is wrong with these lads and quit sending them out too soon. Meanwhile, there should be an RvP sighting at White Hart Lane this evening, a sight for crocked eyes in the Gunner camp.
The Saturday pallet is no less wanting in terms of big matchups. The day kicks off with Mancunian people in arms at the City of Manchester Stadium, where the temperature should be between boiling and white hot for a fixture that might see the Blue half condemn the Red half to bridesmaids while getting themselves into the Champions League. Birmingham/Hull, Fulham/Wolves, Stoke/Bolton and Sunderland/Burnley all feature the relegation nominees on the road, looking for points to salvage/secure their season’s work. Blackburn will look to stymie the rushing tide of Everton as the Toffees look for European glory, while Spurs host Chelsea in a possible pitfall match for the title leaders.
Sunday seems a little lacking, with Arsenal traveling to Wigan and Villa on the march to Pompey. It may be more fun guessing who starts for Pompey than any of the action that either host may offer. The Monday matinee features Liverpool and West Ham in a contest that Liverpool (you’d think) would be desperate to win. So are West Ham. Only the Spaniard (Torres…who‘d you think I was thinking of?) will be able to predict the fates of both squads at Anfield.
